PELICAN (AS. pcilican, from Lat. pelicans's, yclecanus, from Uk. pelekan, pelican, connected with irt)vercuc, pclekas, woodpecker, from ycleka n, to hew with an axe, from rii.thec, ireickys, iSkt. parasu, axe). A large web-footed, fish-eating water-bird of the family Peleeanialre, having a very large, long, flattened hill. The upper mandible, which is terminated by a strong hook, curves over the tip of the lower one; and beneath the lower mandible, which is composed of two flexible bony branches meeting at the tip, a large distensible pouch of naked skinis ap pended. The tongue is very short and almost rudimentary; the face and throat generally are naked; the wings of moderate length, the tail rounded. About 12 species are known, widely distributed in warm regions, frequenting the shores of the sea, lakes, and rivers, and feeding chiefly on fish. They take their prey by plung ing upon it into the water, and store it in their pouch, for their own eating at leisure or to feed their young. Three species of pelican occur in the United States. The white pelican (Telecom's erythrorhynebus) was formerly found throughout North America, but is now rare east of the Mis sissippi, except along the Gulf coast, where it winters. It resembles the common pelican of the Old World, but differs in having a curious horny prominence on the bill during the breeding sea son. The plumage is pure white, exceptine• the primaries. It is the largest American species, being five feet long and eight or nine feet across the wings. It breeds in colonies generally; the egg., from one to four in number, are creamy or bluish white, :1!_ inches long by VA broad.
The brown pelican (Pelecanus fusel's) is some what smaller than the white pelican, and gray and brown. It is found throughout the West Indies. occurs as far north as South Carolina, and breeds throughout its range. The brown pelican of the California coast (Telecom's Cali fornicus) is a trifle larger and shows more dif ference in color.
The common pelican of the Old World (Pub: eanus oncrotalus) is as large as a swan. Its plumage is white, tinged with flesh color. It is a native of Eastern Europe, and of many parts of Asia and Africa, and frequents both the sea coast and rivers and lakes. It makes a nest of grass on the ground near the water, and lays two or three white eggs. The parents are said to carry water to their young, as well as food, in their pouches. The nail or hook which terminates the bill is red, and it has been suggested that the ancient fable of the pelican feeding its young with blood from its own breast originated from its habit of pressing the bill upon the breast, when the red tip might be mistaken for blood.
In heraldry, the pelican is drawn with her wings indorsed, and wounding her breast with her beak. When represented in her nest feeding her young with her blood, she is called 'a pelican in her piety.' Phis is connected with the fable above mentioned, and with the symbolism of the pelican in medireval religious art as significant of self-sacrifiee. Consult Twining, Symbols and Em blems of Christian Art (London. 1886). See Plate of FISHING BIROS.